New Black Panthers under fire for Trayvon shooter bounty

Members of the New Black Panther Party rally next to a memorial to Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Fla., on Saturday. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Members of the New Black Panther Party are drawing criticism for offering a $10,000 reward for the capture of the man who shot and killed an unarmed black teen in Florida, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

The militant group offered the bounty on Saturday, and called on black men to mobilize and capture George Zimmerman, a Neighborhood Watch member who killed Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Fla., in February.

New Black Panther Party leader Mikhail Muhammad told the Sentinel that the group has received donations from black celebrities, and is working to collect $1 million by next week.

But the group’s campaign is being criticized for fanning the flames in an already heated racial debate.

Pastor Moses Brown, of Tampa, told the Sentinel he’s disappointed with the group.

“We believe in a message of justice, not hate,” said Brown, who came to Sanford to pray at a memorial to Martin. “We believe justice will come through the court system.”

Sanford resident James Tucker worries the militant group could incite violence and a race riot.

“I’m as much for black power as anybody but this is going to alienate the white friends we need to get things done,” Tucker told the Sentinel as he watched the group’s demonstration.

And former Orange-Osceola County prosecutor Esther Whitehead told the newspaper that the Panthers’ bounty opens the group up to civil and possibly criminal liability.

“I can’t see how anyone can go out and take action as a private citizen without some government action like the issuance of a warrant,” she said. “It doesn’t make sense. It doesn’t sound reasonable.”

Sanford officials are warning residents to avoid methods like the one endorsed by the New Black Panthers.

“The City is requesting calm heads and no vigilante justice,” the statement said. “Attempts by civilians to take any person into custody may result in criminal charges or unnecessary violence.”